Fort Worth hooks another major sporting event with an expected $25 million economic impact
The Bassmaster Classic is coming back to Cowtown in March 2025.
This will be the second time Fort Worth has hosted the biggest event in professional bass fishing after the June 2021 contest brought roughly 147,000 fans, which was the second largest attendance in the event’s history.
The 2025 classic, going on from March 21-23, is expected to attract a larger audience and generate roughly $25 million in economic impact, according to the Fort Worth Sports Commission. That figure comes from money spent on hotels, at restaurants and souvenirs, the commission said.
Fort Worth’s hospitality and collaborative spirit during the 2021 event played a major role in bringing the classic back in 2025, said Chase Anderson, CEO of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, which organizes the event.
“The venues and facilities here are second to none, and to get to take advantage of a venue like Dickies Arena for our weigh-ins is really remarkable,” Anderson said.
Angers will compete at Lake Ray Roberts near Denton before bringing their catch to Dickies to be weighed. The winning angler will take home a $1 million prize.
“Everything’s bigger in Texas. Especially the bass,” said Chris Zaldain, a Fort Worth resident and 13-year professional bass fisherman.
Zaldain also pointed to the city’s hospitality and its unique cowboy culture as being a major draw for his fellow competitors.
“All the anglers left with a cowboy hat, and a lot of them were wearing them as they weighed in onstage at Dickies Arena,” he said. “This is the only place to get that real Fort Worth cowboy experience with big bass.”
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